Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses

Area of analysis

The Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses (LAD) is ISO 17025 accredited. This allows the exercise of its activities following the directives dictated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The laboratory determines how the anonymous samples they receive will be processed depending on the sample matrix (urine or blood), the target substance and the method of analysis. The use of sophisticated and complex devices is necessary for the detection of forbidden chemicals in samples.

The results of the analysis are provided no later than ten business days after reception of the sample in the form of an analytical report. The office is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, from Monday through Friday.

Upon request, the lab can also perform analysis linked to a legal context or a certificated medical application.

In addition to usual activities, some of the LAD scientists are called upon as experts in cases handled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP)

The Athlete Biological Passport is an individual electronic file which collects data for a given athlete. It can be used to determine whether doping methods were used. Temporal monitoring of biological markers, which can expose doping or pathological impacts is the fundamental principle of the ABP. The benefits from the use of the ABP are considerable as fair-play and athlete’s health preservation are essential to any anti-doping program.

In addition to markers measurement of biological samples, the LAD, through its unit for the management of the athlete’s biological passport, can assist organizations:

in implementing ABP program under the WADA recommendations

in holding and managing passports through the software dedicated to the ABP on a strictly anonymous database, with test results obtain through the ABP module von ADAMS or any other equivalent database

in the definition of a testing program for each athlete, which would be based on information from the ABP, the athlete’s competitions calendar and other non-analytical elements, to optimize the dissuasive impact of the passport

by advising them on the most efficient way to allocate funding and resources

with the ABP evaluation executed by competent employees, which are then used to target athletes

by linking them to a commission of independent experts chosen by the organization to inspect any suspicious passport

Although a few methods are used on every sample, others must be specially requested by sporting federations or supervisory bodies. Abnormal results from given samples may also lead to further analysis.

Some descriptions of methods used by the LAD may be very technical and are therefore intended for a qualified audience.